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Chief Information Officer at Dashen Bank SC
Real User
Oct 2, 2022
An excellent but expensive product that performs well regardless of traffic volume and is better suited to medium to large businesses
Pros and Cons
  • "We appreciate that this solution performs well, regardless of the volume of traffic being fed through it."
  • "The main area for improvement with this product is with the price, which is currently very high compared to the rest of the market."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for communication between banking branches, and connecting those branches to Head Office.

What is most valuable?

We appreciate that this solution performs well, regardless of the volume of traffic being fed through it.

What needs improvement?

The main area for improvement with this product is with the price, which is currently very high compared to the rest of the market.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been working with this solution for more than 20 years.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Enterprise Routers
September 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Enterprise Routers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2026.
913,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a very stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have found this to be a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support for this solution is very good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for this product is very easy, once some training has taken place.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented this solution using our in-house team.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a router-only, perpetual license available for this product, but additional features will mean additional charges.

What other advice do I have?

We recommend this solution for medium to large organizations, as it requires a large financial commitment to work at its best.

We would also advise organizations to be very clear on their requirements. This way they are not paying for features that this product provides, but that they won't use.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Kuldeep_Singh - PeerSpot reviewer
District Manager at RailTel Corporation of India Ltd
Real User
Jul 28, 2022
Provides good performance but could be more secure
Pros and Cons
  • "The performance is good."
  • "The solution could be more secure."

What is our primary use case?

I install this solution for clients. We are a service provider.

What is most valuable?

The performance is good.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more secure.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's stable. We haven't had any issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable.

How was the initial setup?

Installation is simple.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Enterprise Routers
September 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Enterprise Routers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2026.
913,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Head Of Information Technology at Zambia National Building Society
Real User
Jul 18, 2022
Resilient, reliable, and trusted
Pros and Cons
  • "When you set up Cisco, you can forget you have a router. Everything just works."
  • "Using Cisco is the way to go. The peace of mind you get from having a solution that's reliable is invaluable."
  • "It only breaks if you're not using an up-to-date version of the iOS or are not doing upgrades."
  • "With Cisco, depending on what you want, you need to be certified to be able to set up. It's not as easy for newcomers."

What is most valuable?

Cisco is awesome. Honestly. It's a trusted brand. If you want to set up your network and you have a good night's sleep, you buy Cisco. You know that you set up and go to sleep. That's how awesome it is.

I'm biased since I am Cisco certified. I enjoy working with them since it's easy to use them.

There are moments when the configuration gets to be a bit complex, and then you need to look for an expert that helps you troubleshoot or maybe set up things where you might not have the proper knowledge.

The resilience is great. The equipment is so stable. It will not freeze. When you set up Cisco, you can forget you have a router. Everything just works. Only maybe once in a year, you might think of rebooting it. However, that thing works no matter what.

What needs improvement?

It only breaks if you're not using an up-to-date version of the iOS or are not doing upgrades. Also you are not refreshing your hardware. With Cisco, when you buy it, you know that for about five to ten years, you will not have issues. These assets, you refresh them and every five to ten years, you should be getting new equipment that is supported.

For how long have I used the solution?

For me, I’ve used the solution for years. I worked in the past few years in only two different organizations. However, in both, I've been using Cisco. Personally, in total, I’ve used it for 13 to 14 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn’t crash or freeze. It’s reliable. You set it up and forget about it. It lasts forever.

How are customer service and support?

I haven't interacted with Cisco technical support directly. Many colleagues where I live, and maybe across the country, use Cisco, so when I have an issue I'll just use forums. If I have this issue, I will check on the forum and find a solution without struggling much. That's how it is. I do hear that their support is okay. However, I haven't experienced it directly myself.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I can maybe compare the FortiGate Firewall versus Cisco. Cisco, you need to really understand. You'd have command lines to enter. You can create a rule there and it's very, very easy to use if you know the command line.

I'm trying to buy a firewall and I'm looking to buy a FortiGate 200 series. I had to choose between Cisco and FortiGate, however, on the routing and switching, I like Cisco. On the firewall, Cisco is great, I understand, however, maybe it's myself understanding how to do the rules on the Cisco Firepower device better than most.

How was the initial setup?

With Cisco, depending on what you want, you need to be certified to be able to set up. It's not as easy for newcomers. IT’s only when you know what you're doing, and you understand the Cisco commands that you can set up. I'm Cisco certified, so I find it easy to set up. However, the person who is not certified won't set it up.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Cisco is good in terms of pricing. You get good value for money.

They've got different models which come at different prices. If you have a Cisco 3800 router, you may find you are buying it at maybe $4,000 or maybe $3,000. It depends on who's selling. Obviously, the markup is a low code. Sometimes a company exaggerates import duties. If I had to buy directly, it looks cheaper than if I tried to go through a reseller that messes with the costs.

What other advice do I have?

I’m an end-user.

We are using Cisco 800 switches, Cisco 9300 switches, and Cisco 4400 series routers.

These are enterprise routers on-premises.

Using Cisco is the way to go. The peace of mind you get from having a solution that's reliable is invaluable. You are buying reliability, and around it is the value for your money. As a reliable solution, that's what you want, so that you focus on innovation. You configure it, forget it, and focus on other business activities.

I’d rate the solution ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Sumanth Myneni - PeerSpot reviewer
Architect at PepsiCo
Real User
May 22, 2022
Scalable, robust, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Cisco Enterprise Routers is that they are robust and resilient."
  • "The overall price of Cisco Enterprise Routers should be reduced, it is expensive."
  • "The license of Cisco Enterprise Routers is too expensive compared to other solutions. As we try to increase the bandwidth, it gets even more expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Enterprise Routers or WAN connectivity and switching in multiple areas, such as data centers and branch offices.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco Enterprise Routers is that they are robust and resilient. 

What needs improvement?

The overall price of Cisco Enterprise Routers should be reduced, it is expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers are stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of Cisco Enterprise Routers is good.

We have approximately 250,000 users using this solution in my organization. We have an additional 10,000-20,000 contractors and a couple of partners who use the solution.

How are customer service and support?

The support from Cisco Enterprise Routers is good.

How was the initial setup?

Cisco Enterprise Routers has a simple implementation. The timeframe it tale for the implementation depends on the solution we are deploying. It varies up to ten hours. We use Cisco's wireless, routers, switches, and a few firewalls.

What about the implementation team?

We used an integrator to do the implementation.

We have approximately 20 engineers that do the deployment and maintenance.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The license of Cisco Enterprise Routers is too expensive compared to other solutions. As we try to increase the bandwidth, it gets even more expensive. There is an annual license needed to use the solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Enterprise Routers to others who need an enterprise solution.

I rate Cisco Enterprise Routers an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
SameerBali - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Architect at Syriatel Mobile Telecom
Real User
Feb 6, 2022
High availability, reliable, and has good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "They are the most stable, have the highest availability, and are the most reliable on the market."
  • "The price could be lowered."
  • "Cisco Enterprise Routers are not the cheapest routers on the market, they are expensive."

What is our primary use case?

I use Cisco Routers in a variety of technologies, including TLS, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VRF policy-based routing, and VPN in some routers.

What is most valuable?

They are the most stable, have the highest availability, and are the most reliable on the market.

What needs improvement?

The price could be lowered.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for ten years.

We are not using the most recent version, but it is not the oldest.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers is very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers is a scalable product.

We have more than 500 users in our company. We have a team of 50 IT technicians in our company and 5,000 employees that are distributed in approximately 70 locations in the country. Each location has Cisco Enterprise Routers on its premises.

How are customer service and support?

We are pleased with Cisco's technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I use many of the Enterprise Routers. I use now Cisco Routers 4420, 4431, 4450. I use IOS, IOS XE.

How was the initial setup?

I have deployed many routers. All of our technologies have been applied to the routers.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We don't need a license if we use IOS for basic, IT-related tasks. However, if we want to use a security feature, advanced IT features, video conferencing, voice conferencing, or UT, we must purchase a license for each of these features.

Cisco Enterprise Routers are not the cheapest routers on the market, they are expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution other others who are considering it.

I would rate Cisco Enterprise Routers an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Handell Watson - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at Watronix Information Technology Ltd
Reseller
Feb 1, 2022
Beneficial proprietor routing protocol, highly reliable, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "The main reason for using Cisco Routers is for the proprietor routing protocol that it has."
  • "Based on my experience with other routers, Cisco has proven to be reliable, and from the routing aspect of things, it is really the product of choice for most of my customers."
  • "The security could improve for Cisco Enterprise Routers. I understand there's a security appliance that is separate, but in terms of the router, there can be improvements made to prevent unwanted users from accessing the router or trying to manipulate the traffic that is passing through it."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Metro circuits to connect branches on the different bins and I use Cisco Enterprise Routers to route the traffic.

What is most valuable?

The main reason for using Cisco Routers is for the proprietor routing protocol that it has.

What needs improvement?

The security could improve for Cisco Enterprise Routers. I understand there's a security appliance that is separate, but in terms of the router, there can be improvements made to prevent unwanted users from accessing the router or trying to manipulate the traffic that is passing through it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not had a problem with the stability of Cisco Enterprise Routers.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate the technical support of Cisco Enterprise Routers an eight out of ten.

Having to do system troubleshooting and assisting takes time out from the operation of the business. From an operational or technical standpoint, we who install or implement the devices need to be hands-on. Especially when it's a physical problem, not necessarily programming or configuration. There are times when you have issues with a module or it's not operating the way it's supposed to operate and you don't know if it's a manufacturer cause. Trying to troubleshoot these issues should be easier.

Okay. Right. And what advice would you give to other people who want to implement Cisco Enterprise Routers?

How was the initial setup?

I am a trained Cisco engineer, the implementation was not that complicated.

What other advice do I have?

Based on my experience with other routers, Cisco has proven to be reliable. And from the routing aspect of things, it is really the product of choice for most of my customers. Whenever they want to implement any networking, most of them will request Cisco products.

I rate Cisco Enterprise Routers a nine out of ten.

Comparing the 3900 to the 3800 routers, the class of routers has improved over the 3800. Most of the modules are gigabit ports and you can receive 10 gig ports with them, compared to the older version where it's a 100 megabit port. 

Based on how the industry is going, where most connections are way over 100 megabits. If you're receiving an internet connection from a business customer, it's going to be more than 100 megabits, and sometimes 250 megs, or even 500 megabits. To have a router that is 100 megabits defeats the purpose of having a faster internet connection. The 3900 Series really solved that problem, where there are gigabit ports. If you want to aggregate ports to receive, for example, 10 gigabits or more, you can always do that by putting in a module SSP port. It has improved a lot.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Field service manager at reduno.com
Real User
Nov 11, 2021
Extremely scalable with good technical support and good networking capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The performance of the devices is very reliable."
  • "The solution offers very good networking capabilities, the stability is excellent, the consistency of the configuration has been very good, and the performance of the devices is very reliable."
  • "The initial setup can be a little bit difficult."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for our final customers. The solution is used for communication. We are a service provider, and we offer our customers public networks as a service. Our customers typically need an internet connection or MPLS.

What is most valuable?

The solution offers very good networking capabilities.

The stability is excellent.

The consistency of the configuration has been very good.

The performance of the devices is very reliable.

What needs improvement?

The initial setup can be a little bit difficult. They should try to make it easier to set up for new users.

For how long have I used the solution?

I’ve used the solution for maybe ten to 15 years. I’ve used it for over a decade. It’s been a while.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable and the devices are reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn’t crash or freeze. It’s been great.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is extremely scalable. It’s not a problem expanding it as necessary.

How are customer service and support?

We’ve used the solution’s technical support. We found them helpful and responsive and we are quite satisfied with the level of support provided.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup can be hard. That said, we have a good amount of experience. It’s easier to manage the process if you have a good understanding of the solution in general.

I’m not sure how long it took to deploy the solution. For a big project, it might take as long as two weeks, however, a small deployment might only take a few hours. Every deployment differs according to size and requirements.

What about the implementation team?

We tend to set up the solution for our clients. We have some engineers that work directly with end customers.

What other advice do I have?

We use the most recent version of the solution, however, I do not know the version number off-hand.

I’d rate the solution at a ten out of ten. We’ve been very happy with its capabilities.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Network telecommunications administrator at Comtel Technologies
Real User
Nov 11, 2021
Good tech support for a stable and well-priced solution
Pros and Cons
  • "I am pleased with the technical support."
  • "The installation process should be simplified, since it is quite complex in a new version."

What is our primary use case?

We use IOS XE version 17.

What is most valuable?

I like the price of the solution and the ability to take advantage of it as fast as we want. 

What needs improvement?

Sometimes, it can take a while to get used to a new version or additions which are made and this involves us going to the note and doing a lot of reading. There are many changes of which we are not aware. The technology should be addressed, the new protocols that are incorporated in a new version. A new way for registering the equipment might be needed. It can be hard for us to deploy a new version, as we lack the knowledge for its use. 

The installation process should be simplified, since it is quite complex in a new version.

There are simply too many changes taking place. While we are still in the process of learning how to use a new version, another is sent. 

French language capabilities should be added. It is hard for us to adequately express ourselves in English. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable, no bugs or glitches. Based on my experience, I can confirm that this is true of the new version. 

How are customer service and support?

I am pleased with the technical support. In my experience with the TAC team, which provides us with technical assistance, I have found it to be very useful. The moment an issue arises, we open a ticket and receive the help we need. 

How was the initial setup?

The installation process should be simplified, since it is quite complex in a new version.

There are two many changes taking place. While we are still in the process of learning how to use a new version, another is sent. It can be hard for us to deploy a new version, as we lack the knowledge for its use.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I like the price of the solution. 

What other advice do I have?

We act as the integrators of the solution. 

I would certainly recommend the solution to others. 

I rate Cisco Enterprise Routers as an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Intergator
PeerSpot user
reviewer1664805 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Technology Network Manager at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Sep 13, 2021
Good tech support and easy to install
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to install."
  • "We have had occasion to contact technical support in the case of clarifications, other practices involving new software and firmware upgrades, and we are very satisfied with the response time."
  • "The solution could be more stable and secure."

What is our primary use case?

We use routers for communicating between different networks.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more stable and secure. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for the past two decades.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable, although it could be more so. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have the need to upgrade and plan to do so at the requisite time. 

How are customer service and technical support?

We have had occasion to contact technical support in the case of clarifications, other practices involving new software and firmware upgrades. 

We are very satisfied with the response time. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution is easy to install. It is so easy. It does not present an issue. 

What about the implementation team?

We require six people, working around the clock, for the deployment and maintenance. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We do not have an issue with the price. 

The license is perpetual and is in-built to the router upon purchase of the device. However, they recently changed the licensing model to one which is subscription-based for periods of three, five or seven years. The licensing fee is okay and matches industry standards, which is the benchmark. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

In the past we evaluated Juniper Routers. The sole difference between this solution and that of Cisco Enterprise Routers is that the former has a somewhat more complex operating system, which is not very user-friendly. 

We have not made use of Juniper Routers. 

What other advice do I have?

There are around 9,000 people in our organization and we have approximately 120 routers.

I would recommend Cisco Enterprise Routers to others. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Executive at FFC
Real User
Sep 10, 2021
A stable enterprise routing solution with good support
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that Cisco Enterprise Routers is a stable solution. Their technical support is also really good."
  • "It would be better if Cisco Enterprise Routers were more secure."

What is our primary use case?

I use Cisco Enterprise Routers for connectivity. I have five branch sites and a headquarters. We use these routers for connectivity between the branch sites and the headquarters where I'm using SAP.

What is most valuable?

I like that Cisco Enterprise Routers is a stable solution. Their technical support is also really good.

What needs improvement?

It would be better if Cisco Enterprise Routers were more secure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for about 11 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers is a stable solution. They are stable enough, and they have been serving us well for the past ten years. We haven't found any issues with them.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Enterprise Routers is scalable, but their legacy routers aren't that scalable. However, they have been serving us pretty well over the years. We have about 4,000 users at the moment.

How are customer service and technical support?

Cisco's tech support has been really good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward, and it's easy to install. It takes less than an hour to implement this solution. We have a technical team with about 20 people maintaining this solution.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented this solution by ourselves.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I only evaluated Fortinet. There's tough competition between Fortinet and Cisco, but we opted for Cisco.

What other advice do I have?

I would probably recommend this solution to new users.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco Enterprise Routers an eight.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
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Download our free Cisco Enterprise Routers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: September 2026
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Download our free Cisco Enterprise Routers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.